Victoria (3) 1920s

Folkestone Express 24-4-1926

Local News

On Monday, at the Seabrook Police Court, Andrew Benedict Richards was charged with breaking and entering the Valiant Sailor public-house and stealing five Masonic jewels, a metal watch, and a bunch of keys, valued at £7 5s., the property of Mr. A. Aird, on the night of April 15th and 16th. A second charge against him was of breaking into the dwelling-house in Risborough Lane, Cheriton, of Mr. Edwin Turner, and stealing two wallets and cards, and a gold-filled watch, valued at £6 10s. He also was charged with breaking and entering the Victoria Hotel, Risborough Lane, Cheriton, during the night of April 15th and 16th, and stealing £6 in money, a silver-plated pencil case, cigars and cigarettes and other articles of the value of £6 15s., the property of Mr. F. Rivers.

Only evidence of arrest was given, Det. Const Avery stating that on the previous evening he went to Chatham Police Station, where he saw the prisoner m custody. He brought him to Seabrook Police Station where he charged the prisoner with the offences. In reply prisoner said he gave three of the Masonic jewels to three men in Folkestone, and that he put some of the papers he obtained from the wallet behind a hedge at the Menage, Cheriton.

Prisoner was remanded until Friday.

Folkestone Herald 24-4-1926

Seabrook Police Court

Monday, April 19^th: Before Mr. J.S. Clark.

Andrew Benedict Richards, of Queen`s Street, Chatham, was charged with breaking and entering the Valiant Sailor, near Folkestone, during the night of April 14^th and 15^th, and stealing therein five Masonic medals, a metal watch, a bunch of keys, valued at £7 5s. in all, the property of Mr. Alfred C. Aird. He was further charged with breaking and entering a house in Risborough Lane, Cheriton, during the night of the 15^th and 16^th inst., and stealing two wallets, a razor and case, and a gold filled watch, valued at £6 10s., the property of Mr. Edwin Turner. There was a third charge of breaking and entering the Victoria Inn, Cheriton, during the night of the 15^th and 16^th, and stealing £6 in money, a silver plated pencil case and pen, a pair of suede gloves, and a quantity of cigars and cigarettes, together of the value of £6 15s., the property of Mr. Francis Rivers.

Detective Constable Avory, stationed at Seabrook, stated that he saw the prisoner detained at Chatham police station the previous evening at six o`clock, and charged him with the three offences. Accused made no reply. Witness brought him to Seabrook police station, where he formally charged and cautioned him. Accused said “The other three medals I gave to three men in Folkestone. They had one each. I put some papers which were in one of the wallets behind a bush on the edge of the Menage, Cheriton”.

Prisoner was remanded in custody until yesterday.

The Magistrates present at the adjourned hearing were Mr. J.S. Clark and Mr. C. Sheath.

Mr. A.C. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor, Hawkinge, said that he made an inspection of his premises on the night of the 14^th April, and found them all secure. Just after six o`clock on the following morning, on going downstairs, he noticed that the dining room window was open and one pane was broken near the catch. The room itself was in a state of great disorder. He had an office adjoining the dining room, the door of which was locked. He unlocked the door and entered, and noticed that the window was open, and a pane of glass near the catch was broken. The office was in great disorder. He then looked round the other downstairs rooms. The front door was unbolted. He missed nothing from the dining room, but he missed five of his Masonic medals (three produced) and a gun metal watch which had been kept in a drawer in his desk. At a later inspection he missed a bunch of keys, some foreign coins, and a small electric torch. He identified the three medals, the keys and the watch, and the coins were similar to those he had. The value was between £7 and £8.

Detective Constable Avory said that about 7 a.m. on the 15^th April he examined the premises in company with Sergt. Fry. A room used as an office had been entered by the window, which had a pane of glass broken near the catch. The room had the appearance of having been hurriedly searched. The thief, not being able to gain admittance to any other part of the building, owing to the door of the room which he was in being locked, had left by the way he entered, and entered the dining room by the indow in the same way as he had entered the office. At 6 p.m. on the 18^th April he saw the prisoner detained at Chatham police station. He cautioned him and charged him. Prisoner made no reply. He took him to Seabrook police station, where at 10 p.m. he again cautioned and charged him. Prisoner replied “Three of the medals I gave to three men at Folkestone; I also gave one of them the watch. I do not know who they were”. On April 20^th witness recovered the watch from a man named Alfred Brown at the Plough lodging house, New Romney.

Mary Green, 16, Queen Street, Chatham, said that the prisoner was her brother. On April 15^th he came home between half past ten and eleven. She thought it was a Thursday, but she was not sure; it might have been Friday. Her brother gave her a tobacco pouch, two medals, a silver pen and pencil, and a pair of gloves. She recognised the articles produced as those given her by her brother. The next day the police called at the house, and she handed the property over to them. She also handed over an attaché case belonging to her brother. The police opened the case in her presence, and it contained the cigars, cigarettes, and gloves produced.

Prisoner: When I gave you those things I told you I bought them at Folkestone, did I not?

Witness: Yes.

Detective Constable Hawes, of Chatham, said that on April 17^th he kept observation in the High Street, Chatham. About 9.30 p.m., when in company with Detective Constable Gilham, he saw prisoner in Globe Lane, Chatham. He told prisoner he was making enquiries respecting a case of burglary near Folkestone, and that he had reason to believe that he had been to Folkestone. Prisoner replied “No, I have not”. Prisoner then said “Look here, I have been to Folkestone, but you do not want me. I told you I would not do another job in Chatham, and if you let me go I will put you on to a good job”. He noticed the prisoner was wearing one suede glove on the right hand and carrying another. He asked prisoner how he came in possession of them. Prisoner replied “I bought them”. He told prisoner that the gloves answered the description of a pair stolen at Cheriton on April 15^th. He cautioned prisoner and told him that he would take him to the police station, where he would be detained for further enquiries. At 10.30 p.m. the same evening he went to 16, Queen Street, Chatham, where prisoner resided with his married sister, Mary Green. He was in company with Detective Inspector Galloway and Detective Constable Gilham. In consequence of what he said to the prisoner`s sister, she handed him the bunch of keys and the flash lamp from the prisoner`s attaché case. The two Masonic medals were shown to him on a cistern in a lavatory at the rear of the premises by the prisoner`s brother-in-law, Edward Green. He took possession of the medals. The third Masonic medal was recovered by Northfleet police and handed to him.

Detective Constable Gilham corroborated.

Mr. Edward Turner, an Army pensioner, 180, Risborough Lane, said that at about 9.15 p.m. on April 15^th he went to bed, leaving a presentation gold watch and a silver chain, a wallet containing his Army documents, and a razor in case on the kitchen dresser. He heard no noise whatever during the night. On the following morning he went to the dresser between 9.15 and 9.30 and found the articles he had placed there overnight missing. He reported the matter to the police. He valued the articles at £6 6s. He identified the watch, the wallet, the razor case, and a small portion of the documents produced.

Mrs. Turner, wife of the last witness, gave evidence of bolting the door.

Dorothy Mary Turner said that when she came down on the morning of the 15^th she noticed that the back door was open, and that two ornamental tins were on the kitchen table with the lids off. The previous evening about 11.15 she heard a bus stop and footsteps, and the door handle was turned. She did not know her father was in, and she thought that it was he.

P.S. Marsh said that shortly after 3.30 p.m. on April 16^th he visited 180, Risborough Lane, Cheriton, where he found that an entry had been made by the back door being insecurely fastened. The lock, although fastened, did not secure the door. A bolt which was on the top of the door appeared to be slightly out of alignment with the slot in which it should go.

Detective Constable Hawes said that the suede wallet produced was handed to him by the prisoner`s sister, and the gold presentation watch produced by the prisoner`s sister-in-law, Norah Richards. The morocco leather wallet produced was found on the prisoner when he was searched at the police station.

Detective Constable Avory said that at 6 p.m. on April 18^th he saw prisoner detained at Chatham police station. He told him that he was a police officer, cautioned him, and charged him with breaking and entering the dwelling house at 180, Risborough Lane, Cheriton, and stealing one gold watch, one razor and case, and two pocket wallets, the property of Mr. Edward Turner. Prisoner made no reply. At Seabrook police station at 10 p.m. he was again cautioned and charged. Prisoner replied “The papers which were in one of the wallets I put in the hedge on the edge of the Menage”. On the 19^th he searched the spot indicated by the prisoner and found the papers produced, and also the razor case.

Mr. Arthur Henry Alker, living at the Victoria Inn, said that he was the son-in-law of the licensee, Mr. Rivers. On April 15^th about 10.30 hel ocked and secured the house. He did not hear anything in the night. On the following morning he examined the tills and found that they were empty. He knew that there was something in them overnight. There was a half pint glass containing beer and a half pint milk stout bottle in teh saloon bar which had not been there the night before. There were footmarks on the rug at the entrance to the drawing room, and the dining room was in disorder. A small parcel was undone, and a pen and pencil were missing from a case. When he put on his coat he discovered that a pair of brown suede gloves were missing. There was £2 in each till the night before, and there were three tills. He identified a pen and pencil (produced), and he also recognised a cigar box (produced).

Mary Fowler, employed as a barmaid at the Victoria, said that she went downstairs about seven o`clock on the morning of April 16^th to let the painters in. Whilst she was undoing the back door two of the other painters came through the dart room door. Then she went back into the kitchen, and after that through the saloon bar behind the bar. She found the till open, with a penny or two halfpennies in it. £2 had been left in it the night before. There were three tills, and the same amount was left in each till. She saw that the other two tills were open.

Mary Green said that the pen and pencil, the gloves, and the tobacco were given to her by her brother.

Detective Constable Hawes said that at 9.30 on April 17^th he saw the prisoner at Chatham and asked him how he came into possession of the gloves. He replied “I bought them”. He examined the gloves and told him they answered the description of a pair of gloves stolen at Cheriton on April 15^th. On the way to the police station the prisoner dropped the gloves and the one produced was recovered by Detective Constable Gilham. At 10.30 p.m. the same day he went to 16, Queen Street, Chatham, where he saw the prisoner`s sister, Mary Green, who handed him a pencil case, a pen, and a quantity of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars.

Detective Constable Avory gave further evidence.

Defendant called no witnesses, and said that he had nothing to say.

Prisoner was committed to take his trial at the next Assizes.

Folkestone Express 1-5-1926

Local News

On Friday, at the Seabrook Police Court, be­fore Mr. J. S Clark and Mr C. Sheath, Andrew Benedict Richards was charged, on remand, with breaking and entering the Valiant Sailor public-house and stealing five Masonic jewels, a metal watch, a bunch of keys, and one electric torch valued at £7 5s., the property of Mr. A. Aird, on the night of April 14^th and 15^th.

Alfred Charles Aird, the licensee of the Valiant Sailor public-house, said his premises were securely looked when he retired to bed just after midnight on the night of the 14^th and 15^th April. About 6 a.m. on the 15^th April, on coming downstairs, he discovered that the window of the dining-room had a small piece of glass broken off near the catch, and was wide open. The room was in n state of disorder. He examined the office, and found that the front door was unbolted. From the office he missed five Masonic jewels, and which the three (produced) he identified He also missed a gun-metal watch, which had been kept in a drawer in his desk. At a later inspection he missed a bunch of keys and some foreign coins, and a small electric torch, all of which he identified, although there were 200 coins in the first place. He valued them at between £7 and £8.

Det.Con. Avery, stationed at Seabrook, said at 7 a.m. on the 15^th April, in consequence of a telephone message, he visited the Valiant Sailor public-house, where he examined the premises in company with Sergt. Fry. A room used as an office had been entered by the window, which had a pane of glass broken near the catch. The room was in a state of disorder, and had the appearance of having been hurriedly searched. The thief, not be­ing able to gain admittance in any other part of the building, owing to the door of the the room in which he would have entered being locked, had left by the way he had entered, and had entered the dining-room by the window, as he had entered the office on the first occasion. The room was in disorder. At 6 p.m. on the 18^th April, he saw the prisoner detained at the Chatham Police Station. He told him he was a police officer, and cautioned him, and charged him with breaking and en­tering the Valiant Sailor public-house, in the parish of Hawkinge, and stealing therein five Masonic medals and brooch, a metal watch, a bunch of keys and a pocket flash-lamp, of the total value of £7 5s., the property of Alfred Charles Aird, during the night of April 14^th and 15^th. He made no reply. He conveyed him to the Seabrook police station, where, at 10 p.m., he again cautioned and charged him. He replied “Three of the medals I gave to three men at Folkestone. I also gave one of them a watch. I do not know who they were”. On the 20^th April he recovered the watch (produced) at the Plough Lodging House, New Romney, from Alfred Brown, a lodger at the house.

Mary Green, 16, Queen`s Street, Chatham, said the prisoner was her brother. On the 15^th April about 10-30 and 11 o'* clock her brother came home. She thought it was on the Thursday that he gave her something; it may have been on Friday. He gave her a tobacco pouch, and two medals, and a pair of silver pencils, and a pair of gloves (produced). The following day the police called at her house. She handed the property over to them and an attache case belonging to her brother,and which she got from under the sofa. The police opened it in her presence, and it contained cigars and cigarettes and a glove.

Prisoner: When I gave you those things said I had bought them at Folkestone.

Witness:  Yes. I did not believe you though.

Det.-Con. George Hawes, of the Kent County Constabulary, stationed at Chatham, said on Saturday, the 17^th April, he received informa­tion from Supt. Goulding of certain offences having been committed in the Elham district, together with a list of stolen property. He made enquiries, and in consequence of information received, he kept observation in the High Street Chatham. About 9-30 p.m. the same evening,  in company with Det. Con. Gilham, he saw the prisoner in Globe Lane, Chatham. He stopped him and said to him “You know I am a police officer I am mak­ing enquiries respecting a case of burglary near Folkestone on the night of the 14^th and 15^th April, and I have reason to believe you have been to Folkestone”. He replied “No, I haven‘t”. He then said "Look here, I have been to Folkestone, but you don t want me. I told you I would not do another job in Chatham, and if you let me go I will put you on to a good job”. He then noticed the prisoner was wearing a suede glove on the right hand, and was carrying another in the same hand. He examined the gloves and asked him how he came in possession of them. He re­plied “I bought them”. He said to him “They answer the description of a pair of gloves stolen at Cheriton on the 15^th April”. He then cautioned him, and told him he should take him to the Police Station, where he would be detained for further enquiries. About 10-30 p.m. the same evening he went to No. 16, Queen’s Street, Chatham, where the pris­oner resided with his married sister, Mary Green. He was in company with Det.-Insp. Galloway and Det.-Con. Gilham In consequence of what, he said to prisoner's sister, she handed him a hunch of keys and a flash-lamp from the prisoner's attache case The two Masonic medals were shown to him on a cistern in a lavatory at the rear of the premises by the prisoner's brothel in law, Edward Green. He took possession of themedals. The third Masonic medal was recovered by the Northtleet Police and handed to him.      

Det.-Con. H. G. Gilham, stationed at Chat­ham, gave corroborative evidence.

Prisoner was then charged with breaking into the a dwelling-house of Mr. Edwin Turner, Risborough Lane, Cheriton, and stealing two wallets and a gold-filled watch, etc., of the value of £6 10s.

Edwin Turner, an Army pensioner, 180, Risborough Lane, said about 9.15 p m. on the 15^th  April, he went to bed, and left several articles, including a presentation gold watch, silver chain, and wallet containing Army documents on the kitchen dresser. He heard no noise whatever during the night. He woke about 9 o'clock on the 16^th April. He went to tho dresser between 9.15 and 9.30, and in consequence of what lie discovered, he informed the police He valued the articles at £6 6s.

Catherine Turner, wife of the last witness, also gave evidence.

Dorothy Mary Turner, cashier, said about ten minutes past seven on the morning of the 17thy April, she came downstairs, and noticed that the back door was open. On the kitchen table she noticed two ornamental tins, with the lids off, but it did not strike her as unusual. The previous night about 11.30, she heard a ’bus stop. She then heard footsteps, and the door handle was turned. Her father was not in at the time, so she thought it was her father.

Sergt. Marsh, stationed at Cheriton, said shortly after 8 p.m. on the 16^th April, in consequence of a communication received, he visited 180, Risborough Lane, Cheriton, where he found an entry had been made to the premises by the back door, it being insecurely fastened. A bolt, which was on the top of the door, appeared to he slightly out of a line with a slot in which the bolt should go,

Det.-Cons. Hawes, stationed at Chatham, said in consequence of information received, he went to 16, Queen’s Street, Chatham, where the suede glove (produced) was handed to him by the prisoner’s sister. A gold watch was handed to him by the prisoner’s sister-in-law arid a Morocco wallet was found on the prisoner when he was searched at the Police Station.

Det. Cons. Avery, said when he saw the prisoner detained at Chatham Police Station, he cautioned him and charged him with breaking and entering a dwelling house at of it 180, Risborough Lane, Cheriton during the night of the 15^th and 16^th April, and stealing therein a gold filled watch, a razor and case and two pocket wallets, of the value of £6 10s., the property of Edwin Turner. He made no reply. He conveyed him to the Seabrook Police Station, where he was again cautioned and charged by him (witness), and he replied "The papers which were in one the of the wallets I put in the hedge on the edge of the Menage”. On the 19^th  April he the searched the spot indicated by the prisoner, and found the papers (produced), and also the razor case.

Prisoner was' then charged with breaking and entering the Victoria Hotel, Risborough Lane, Cheriton, during the night of April 15^th and 16^th,  and stealing £6  in money, a silver-plated case, cigars and cigarettes, and other articles of the value of £6 15s, the property of Mr. P. Rivers.

Arthur Henry Alker, of the Victoria public house, a son-in-law of the licensee, Mr. Rivers, said on the 16^th April about 10-20 p.m. he locked and secured the house. After finishing work in the bar, he had occasion to go into the lavatory about 10-30, and the window was closed. He did not hear anything during the night. The following morning, from a communication he received from Miss Fowler, he examined the till, and found it was empty The previous night there was something in the till. In the saloon bar, on the counter, was a half-pint glass, half-filled with beer, and a half-pint bottle of milk stout, both of which were not there when he went to bed. He noticed there were footmarks on the floor, and the dining room was in dis­order. A parcel on a small table was undone, and a pencil was missing from a case. He discovered a pair of brown suede gloves were missing from his overcoat. He notified the police, and when he returned he found the lavatory window was wide open, and a pair of house-steps were against the wall outside. A brush find comb were lying on the ground outside, and which were on the ledge on the inside of the lodge the night before. There was £2 in each till the night before, and there were three tills. He identified a pencil, a glove, and the cigar box. The goods belonged to Mr. Rivers with the exception of the gloves; apart from the £6, the glove, pen and pencil he valued at 19s.

Mary Fowler, a barmaid at the Victoria public-house, said about 7 o’clock on the morn­ing of the 16^th April she went downstairs to let the painters in. Whilst she was undoing the door, two of the painters came through the dart-room door and said something to her. She had not opened the door previously. She then went back into the kitchen, and after that she went behind the bar and found the till open, and there was a penny or two halfpennies in that till. Overnight there had been £2 in it. There were three tills, and the same amount was left in each till, as change, overnight. She saw the other two tills were wide open.

Mary Green, the prisoner's sister, said the glove, pen and pencil, and two packets of Nosegay tobacco (produced) were given to her by the prisoner.

Det.-Con. George Hawes said in consequence of information received on the 17^th April at 9.300 he saw the prisoner in Chatham wearing a brown suede glove on his right hand and carrying the other in the same hand. He told him he had bought them. He examined the gloves, and said they answered the descrip­tion of a pair of suede gloves stolen at Cheriton on the 15^th April. He cautioned the prisoner, and told him he would take him to the Police Station, where he would be de­tained for further enquiries. On the way to the Police Station the prisoner dropped the gloves, and the one produced was recovered by Det. Con. Gilham. At 10.30 p.m. the same evening he went to 16 Queen`s Street, where he saw the prisoner`s sister, who handed to him the pencil case, the pen, and a quantity of cigarettes, tobacco and cigars.

Det. Con Avery said at Chatham he charged the prisoner with breaking and entering the Victoria public-house, Cheriton, during the night of 15^th and 16^th April, and stealing therein £6 in money, a silver-plated pen, a silver-plated pencil, and a pair of suede gloves, and a quantity of cigars and cigarettes, of the total value of £6 15s. He made no reply. He conveyed him to Seabrook Police Station, where he again cautioned and charged him. He made no reply respecting that charge.

The prisoner, in answer to the Clerk, said he had nothing to say to the charge made if against him.

The Chairman, addressing the prisoner, said they had considered the case, and they thought it was a terrible thing that people could not be in their own house at night without having things taken. He would be committed to take his trial at the next Assizes.

Folkestone Herald 3-7-1926

Kent Assizes

At the Kent Assizes at Maidstone, Andrew Benedict Richards, 28, shoemaker, pleaded Guilty to breaking into the Victoria public house and other premises at Cheriton on April 15^th and 16^th, and stealing therein £6, cigars and cigarettes, and other articles, the property of Francis Rivers and another. Prisoner also pleaded Guilty to having committed perjury in his evidence at the West Kent Sessions at Maidstone on April 8^th of this year.

The perjury charge arose in a case of shop-breaking at Chatham in which the police gave evidence that they actually saw accused in the shop. An alibi was set up by prisoner, and the Sessions jury acquitted him.

Three women who gave evidence in support of the alibi were also before the Assize Court charged with perjury.

Mr. Dickens said Richards broke into a public house at Hawkinge and stole from it 5s., and the next night he forcibly entered a public house at Cheriton, stole £6 and other small articles, including a pair of gloves, which he was wearing when arrested. He committed another burglary the same night at Cheriton, and stole a gold watch and a few other articles.

Superintendent Golding described Richards as a bad character, and read a list of his previous convictions, which began at the age of 11, when he was bound over at Rochester for the theft of a bicycle. At Rochester Quarter Sessions in 1915 he received two terms of three years (concurrent) for false pretences. He was called up in 1916 and went to France in the Royal Artillery. On his return in June, 1919, he deserted and was arrested for housebreaking, and additional charges were taken into account. He was in Canterbury prison when he received discharge from the Army, his military character being “bad”, At Kent Assizes in February, 1921, he received two sentences of hard labour for shop-breaking. In October, 1922, he came out of prison, and in November was sent back for larceny. At West Kent Quarter Sessions in 1923 he received three years` penal servitude for housebreaking. On July 1^st, 1925, he came out on licence and had done very little work since. Since his arrest he had assisted the police to recover some of the stolen property.

Prisoner, through his counsel, said he accepted full responsibility for the perjury; the women in no way benefitted by the evidence they gave.

Inspector Sarramore, of Chatham Division, stated that prisoner was found a situation by the police. He was out of work for a fortnight, and during that time police officers assisted him. They found him another job at £3 10s. a week, and whilst in that situation he committed the crime out of which the perjury charge arose.

Richards told the Judge that he played upon the affection of the women and got them to come forward and commit perjury.

His Lordship bound over the three women. He sent Richards to three years` penal servitude for the burglaries and to two days` (concurrent) for perjury. If he did not make a complete change, the Lord Chief Justice warned him, he would be tried as an habitual criminal.

Folkestone Herald 9-10-1926

Local News

About nine o`clock on Monday morning a fully-grown fox was seen dashing down Risborough Lane, Cheriton. After narrowly escaping death by being run over by a passing bus, it dashed through an open door into the Victoria Hotel, Risborough Lane.

The landlord (Mr. F.R. Rivers) locked the door on the fox, which had taken refuge in the saloon bar. It next got under the bar counter. Two officers of the 11^th Hussars arrived on the scene, and with a stick and bag managed to secure the animal. When cornered the fox snarled and showed its teeth. It will probably be released again later when hunting is in full swing. It is not definitely known where the fox came from.

Folkestone Herald 5-2-1927

Elham Annual Licensing Sessions

Thursday, February 3^rd: Before Dr. W.J. Tyson, Alderman E.J. Bishop, Alderman C. Ed. Mumford, Mr. A.S. Jones, Mr. W.G. Tester, Mr. R. Rigden, and Mr. C. Sheath.

The Superintendent of the Elham Division, K.C.C. (Supt. F.H. Golding) presented the following report: I have the honour to submit to you my annual report on the licensed houses within the Elham Petty Sessional Division, the number and description being as follows: Ale houses, 26,; beer houses on, 8; beer houses, off, 3; grocers, etc., 5; Total 42.

The population of the Division is 17,310, which gives a ratio of one licence to 412 persons. During the past year the licences of four ale houses and two beer houses have been transferred. One licensee has been proceeded against for an offence against the Licensing Act, and the case was dismissed. No proceedings have been taken against any person during the year for drunkenness. The number of persons proceeded against dor drunkenness during the past eight years is as follows: 1919, 1; 1920, 2; 1921, 1; 1922, 3; 1923, 2; 1924, 2; 1925, 2; 1926, nil.

All the licensed houses have been generally well conducted during the past year, and I have no objection to the renewal of any of the licences.

The Chairman said that the Bench had pleasure in signing the report as satisfactory.

Mr. Rutley Mowll, of Dover, applied on behalf of the Folkestone and District Licensed Victuallers` Association to extend the permitted hours under the Licensing Act, 1921.

Mr. Mowll said he appeared to ask the Magistrates to remove a curious anomaly that had arisen with regard to the licensing hours in the district. Since he had the honour of appearing before the Magistrates on a similar application the circumstances had, he ventured to say, very much changed to the advantage of the applicants, as they had now got on either side of their jurisdiction the very conditions prevailing which he was asking the Bench to apply to its jurisdiction. That was to say Hythe had got the privilege, and so had Folkestone, so that on either side of them they had got the licensing hours during the seasonable months extended from 10 until 10.30. He was there to ask the Magistrates to do that for the licensees in their district in their desire to cater for the needs of the public. When it was last before the Bench it was a little uncertain as to whether the Folkestone Magistrates would assent to that very reasonable course. They did assent, and he though the was right in saying that it had been found to work most satisfactorily both at Folkestone and also at Hythe. He thought that they wanted no more striking illustration of the ridiculous way in which the matter worked out at the present time than to take the town of Sandgate. It was true that Sandgate had not a Mayor and Corporation of its own; it was ruled by a District Council and consequently came within the Elham Division area. Suppose anybody arrived by bus at 10 p.m. at the foot of Sandgate Hill. The Fleur de Lis, at Sandgate, was within the jurisdiction of the Folkestone Magistrates, and consequently customers arriving by bus could go and get a drink there at ten o`clock, and remain there until 10.30. Immediately opposite was the Military Tavern, which was within their jurisdiction, and unless they granted the facility for which he applied, the Military Tavern had to close its door at ten o`clock, and therefore the Fleur de Lis had that advantage over the Military Tavern. Persons who wanted intoxicating liquor had to leave the Military Tavern at ten o`clock, and they could walk across the road and get those facilities at the Fleur de Lis. It was laughable; it did not want any comment by him. That was the position. The only difficulty tha Magistrates had in his mind in assenting to the proposition was the fact that within their jurisdiction were a number of houses in a purely rural area. If they examined the type of trade, the quantity of trade that was done in their urban houses, as distinct from their rural houses, they would find that by far the larger portion was done in the urban houses. Let them take such houses as the White Lion at Cheriton, or the Victoria Hotel in Risborough Lane – they were obviously, to all intents and purposes, town houses. Within half a mile of the White Lion, such was the need for licensing facilities, there was an application now pending before the Folkestone Bench to grant a full licence; to transfer, in fact, a hotel licence from the Borough of Folkestone to that point to a place called the Morehall Wine and Spirit Stores. If that was granted – he was not pre-judging it at all – there would be an anomaly there. That house would be open until 10.30 under the rule of the Folkestone Magistrates, and the adjoining house, the White Lion, would have to close at ten o`clock. The thing was absurd. What he was asking the Bench to do was to have regard to the majority of the needs of the district, to say that they were not going to penalise the licensed victuallers who came within their district by prohibiting them from having the privilege which the licensed victuallers on either side of them enjoyed. They could not have a better record than that which they had heard in Superintendent Golding`s report; not a single licensed victualler convicted of any offence and not a single case of drunkenness. If they could not trust those licensed victuallers he did not know who they could trust. He asked the Bench to grant the application. He would point out to them if they felt any difficulty regarding the rural area that while he did not think they had any right to split up their licensing district – he thought one rule must apply throughout the district – if their rural houses did not require that facility there was no reason on earth why they should use it. The facility was needed for the urban houses. They had every reason to need it and he was suggesting to the Bench that it was only fair and right that they should have it. Every Bench had to decide for itself, but it must be within their knowledge that the facility for which he was asking was already enjoyed in one for or another by almost every other town on the coast in Kent. They had got it at Dover, at Deal, Folkestone, Hythe, and they had got it at places like Margate and Broadstairs. There was only one place he knew of where it was not granted in those seaside towns and that was at Ramsgate, but it could not be long before common sense prevailed there. He asked for common sense to prevail in their Division, and he appealed to the Bench to help the licensed victuallers under their jurisdiction to carry on their business at a time when all seaside people were making their living.

After a brief retirement of the Magistrates, the Chairman announced that the hours would remain the same as last year.